Hanukkah: A Celebration of LightSample

Conquering the Darkness

The battle between the Jews and the Greeks that we recall on Hanukkah was more than a physical battle; it was a battle of ideals and values. The Greeks proclaimed that all that matters is what we can see, touch, and understand. The Jews believed that what matters most cannot be seen, touched, or understood. The Greeks believed that beauty was holy. The Jews maintained that holiness is beautiful. The Greeks worshiped the physical body; the Jews cherished the soul.

The Greeks' ideals encouraged immorality, idolatry, and selfishness. The Jews stood for goodness, godliness, and kindness. This was a battle between good and evil, darkness and light. While the Greeks tried to extinguish the light of the Torah, a great miracle happened, and the small group of remaining loyal Jews could conquer the darkness.

However, it’s critical to understand that this battle was not won naturally. That wouldn’t have been enough to completely eradicate the ideals of the Greeks. Instead, it was won supernaturally. As we recall in our Hanukkah prayers, God placed the many in the hands of the few and the mighty in the hands of the weak. God fought the battles for the Jews who fought with their faith.

The attitude of these fighters can be found in their chosen name. They became known as the Maccabees, ultimately led by Judah the Maccabee. Maccabee can mean “hammer,” and indeed, the Maccabees hammered their enemies, fighting off the greatest, mightiest army of the time. Yet Maccabee is also a Hebrew acronym for the phrase: “Who among the gods is like you, LORD?” (Exodus 15:11). This was the battle call of those brave fighters, and it was also the source of their strength.

On Hanukkah, we celebrate the miracle of the Maccabees' triumph over the Greeks, which is also the victory of light over darkness. Appropriately, we light candles in the darkness to commemorate the event. Even just one candle can dispel so much darkness.

As we gaze at the candles each night during Hanukkah, we remember that the way to fight darkness is by adding more light. It’s not by might but by God’s spirit and light that redemption will come into the world. When we affirm our faith in God, we continue the legacy of the Maccabees and merit the same Divine assistance afforded to them.